Collaborative Research: REU Site: Security Printing and Anti-Counterfeiting Technology

南达科他州矿业与技术学院及其伙伴组织南达科他州大学和南达科他州州立大学将为不同的本科生群体提供一个面向本科生的创新研究体验(REU)网站，重点是致力于安全打印和反假冒技术(SPACT)的跨学科研究，目标群体是部落学院和其他STEM研究机会有限的机构。SPACT的研究主题具有重要的社会意义。在美国，造假是一个日益严重的问题，造成了严重的经济、安全和国家安全问题，并影响到各种行业(如制药、半导体)。在这个REU网站上，学生们将对变革性的防伪技术进行研究。SPACT是一个需要在四个关键领域发展的领域：先进材料、先进制造/图案化技术、检测和加密技术以及软件和数据库基础设施。SPACT REU将实施一项独特的本科生研究计划，以遏制与假冒相关的经济损失以及健康和安全风险。这个为期10周的夏季REU网站的主要目标是：1)在协作、跨学科的环境中进行变革性研究，2)为不同的10名本科生提供STEM专业发展机会，每年为期三年。来自三个合作机构的教师导师团队都拥有指导本科生研究人员的经验，他们将通过应用科学和工程各个领域的研究方法来实施SPACT项目。参与者将通过精心设计的研究项目和培训研讨会来发展合作研究技能。学生将参加一个高度整合的职业发展和技术交流项目。教师将与行业领袖一起举办培训研讨会，以扩大学生在必要的SPACT领域的现有学术培训。该REU网站的长期目标是为不同的STEM研究人员提供在最高水平进行研究生学习所需的培训和技能，并推动SPACT的发展领域。

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, along with its partner organizations, the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University, will offer an innovative Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) Site focused on interdisciplinary research dedicated to Security Printing and Anti-Counterfeiting Technology (SPACT), for a diverse group of undergraduate students, targeting Tribal Colleges and other institutions with limited STEM research opportunities. The SPACT research theme is of great societal importance. Counterfeiting is a growing issue in the U.S., posing serious economic, safety and national security concerns and impacting a wide variety of industries (e.g. pharmaceutics, semiconductors). In this REU Site students will conduct research on transformative anti-counterfeiting technology. SPACT is a field which demands development in four key areas: advanced materials, advanced manufacturing/patterning technologies, detection and encryption technology, and software and database infrastructure. The SPACT REU will implement a unique undergraduate research program to curb the economic losses and health and safety risks associated with counterfeiting. The key objectives of this 10-week summer REU Site are to: 1) conduct transformative research in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, and 2) provide STEM professional development opportunities to a diverse group of 10 undergraduate students, each year for three years. A team of faculty mentors from the three partner institutions, all with demonstrated experience in mentoring undergraduate researchers, will implement a program in SPACT by applying research methods from various fields of science and engineering. Participants will develop collaborative research skills via carefully designed research projects and training seminars. Students will participate in a highly integrated professional development and technical communications program. The faculty, alongside industry leaders, will deliver training seminars to broaden the student's existing academic training in the necessary SPACT areas. The long-term goal of this REU Site is to provide a diverse group of STEM researchers with the training and skills needed to pursue graduate studies at the highest levels and to advance the developing field of SPACT.